Pallet dispenser



Feb. 19, 1963 F. L. IRISH 3,978,009

PALLET DISPENSER Filed Dec. 6, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheetl 1 FRANK 1 IRISH,

BY: naudJa-yuf HIS ATTORNEY.

Feb., 19,. 1963- F. l.. lRxsH :078,0697i PALLET DISPENSER Filed linac:n6l, 1960 3 Sheetsstlest 2 INVENTOR: FRANK L. IRISH,

BYAMW HIS ATTORNEY.

Feb. 19, 1963 F. l.. IRISH PALLET DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheetl 3 Filed Dec.6, 1960 um. Y RB E 0R N Tl. R NL O EK u V NN A lm United States PatentSdidl@ PALLE? DEPENSER Frank L. irish, De Witt, NY., assigner to LainsonCorporation, Syracuse, NFL, a corporation of New Yer-ir Filed Dec. 6,web, Ser. No. 74,1142 Slairns. (Ci. 22E- 297) This invention has to dowith mechanism for dispensing pallets one by one from a stack formation.rhis mechanism is intended for use in connection with pallet loaderswhich are machines that function automatically to deposit layers ofarticles onto a pallet for the convenient handling of the articles, asby a lift truck. A machine of this type is disclosed in Patent No.2,633,251, issued to J. K. Bruce, March 3l, 1953.

The form of pallet most generally used comprises a flat floor ofrectangular form secured to spacing rails which, in turn, are mountedupon and secured to a base plate. Ordinarily the rails consist of piecesof 2x4 lum-ber, and the tloor plate and base plate are formed of boardsnailed to the 2x4 rails.

A stack of these pallets is arranged in the automatic pallet loadingmachine, and provision is made for transferring the lowermost pallet ofthe stack to a pallet elevator. When the layers of articles have beendeposited on the pallet, the loaded pallet is conveyed from the machineand another empty pallet is placed on the pallet elevator. Heretofore,the pallets have been removed from the stack by power operated mechanisminvolving au expensive and complicated structure.

This invention has as an object a pallet dispensing mechanism embodyinga construction in the form of small self-contained units economical tomanufacture and which are readily mounted on various types of palletloaders and which function automatically without any power, or otherconnection, with the pallet loader.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to th accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

ln the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a pair of pallet dispensing unitsshown in connection with the contiguous parts of a pallet loader, partsof the lowerrnost pallet and the next above being broken away and partsthereof shown in section, the mechanism supporting the stack of pallets.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of one or the units.

FiGURE 3 is a view taken on line 3 3, FGURE 2.

FlGURE 4 is a view taken ou line 4 4, FIGURE 2.

FGURE 5 is a view, similar to FIGURE 3, showing the position of theparts when the stack of pallets has been elevated slightly.

FIGURE 6 is a view, similar to FIGURE 5, showing the stack of palletselevated clear of the dispensing mechanism.

FIGURE 7 is a view illustrating the position of the parts when the stackof pallets is lowered from the position shown in FEGURE 6.

FiGURE 8 is a view, similar to FlGURE 7, showing the stack of palletslowered to a position where the pallet next above the lowermost palletis about to engage the supporting arms of the dispensing units.

The invention consists generally of pallet supporting arms mounted inthe framework of the machine contiguous to opposite sides of the stackof pallets for supporting the lowermost pallet in the stack. These armsare spring actuated in a direction away from the stack when thelowerrnost pallet is moved upwardly from the arms. A reset `linger isassociated with each of the "i ce arms for engagement by the lowermostpallet by downward movement thereof. These fingers function whenactuated by the downward movement of the lowerrnost pallet to return thearms in position or engagement by the pallet next above the lowermostpallet. A stack elevator functions to engage the lowermost pallet andmove the stack upwardly a distance sutiicient to permit withdrawal ofthe supporting arms, and thence lowers the stack. During this downwardmovement of the stack, the lowermost pallet engages the reset fingers toreturn the arms for engagement by the pallet next above, the lowermostpallet continuing downwardly. A latch is provided to latch the arms inpallet engaging position until the next above pallet is resting upon thearms. The released lowerrnost pallet is lowered to a conveyor whichadvances the dispensed pallet to the pallet elevator of the palletloading machine.

The pallet supporting arms and reset fingers may be mounted directly onthe framework of the pallet loader.

However, the supporting arms and reset iingers are preferably mounted inhousings to provide separate selfcontained dispensing units, thehousings being iixedly mounted on vertically extending side members itlof the frame of the pallet loader. To each of these side members, thereis iixedly secured a housing formed with a back plate l1 apertured toreceive bolts l2 extending through the frame members 1d. Each housing isformed with side plates 13, ld, iixedly secured to the plate 1l. A topplate l5 is tixed to the upper forward edges of the side plates 13, 14,and a cross member 16 extends between the plates 13, 14, adjacent theplate 15.

A bar 29 is fixed to the back plate l1 and extends in spaced parallelrelation to the side plate 13 to which it is also connected by a plateEl. The side plate 13 and the bar 20 are apertured to receive a pin 22on which there is pivotally mounted a lever Z5. The pin 22 is heldagainst axial movement by a collar 26 aiiixed thereto and positionedintermediate the side plate 13 and the lever 25.

The lever 2S is of general T-ormation, see FIGURES 1 and 3, and isformed with a laterally extending arm 28. These arms 2S extend under thefloor, or upper surface, 29 of the lowermost pallet Si, as shown in FI"-URE l of the drawings and, in this manner, the arms support the stack ofpallets, there being four-3l, 32, 33 and 34, shown in FEGURE l. The arms2S are maintained in horizontal position by the upper end of the levers25 engaging the cross pieces 16 of the housings, see FGURE 3. The levers25 are urged inwardly by tension springs 35, the upper ends of which areattached to pins 37 mounted in the upper ends of the levers 2S, andsecured thereto as by lock nuts 38. FEhe lower ends of the springs 36are secured to pins ttl mounted in the free ends of arms 41. The arms 4lare normally positioned as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, with the pins it?inwardly of the vertical plane iutercepting'the axis of the pin Becauseor this location of the pin d, the spring tends to urge the lever 25 ina counterclockwise direction, FGURE 3.

This movement of the lever 25 is prevented by a latch member 4i-l ofchannel formation having side pieces 45' overlying the sides of the arm2S, and extending rearwardly over the sides of the lever 25. These sidepieces are pivotally mounted to the lever at their rear ends by a pin47. The top wall of the latch is bent downwardly and inwardly, as at d3,complemental to the formation of the outer end of the arm 23. The arm Z3is recessed to receive a compression spring 49, which urges the latchmember upwardly about its pivot 47, this upward movement being limitedby the turned-down forward portion 41S engaging the forward end of thearm 28. A plate Sil is secured to the inner side of the side plate i3,and the apropos adjacent side member e of the latch is formed with aprojection Si. ln the position shown in FlGURE 3, with the latchelevated slightly above the arm 2.8, the projection 5l engages the lowerfront end edge of the plate Si? and accordingly, the latch serves toprevent inward motion of the arm 25 by the spring 36. The stop plate Si?is secured to the side plate 13 by studs S6 extending through enlargedapertures 57 in plate i3. This permits adjustment of plate 5t? which isclamped in adjusted position by nuts 58 threaded on the studs.

Initially, one or two pallets are manually placed in the machine withthe floor 29 of the lowermost pallet 31 positioned on the arms 2S. Thatis, the pallets are arranged with the lrails 52 of the pallets extendingin parallel spaced apart rela-tion transversely of the stack, and thearms 28 extend between the `floor 29 and the base 53 of the lowermostpallet 3l. Theweight of the pallet moves the latch members'dddownwardly, tomove the projections 5l out of engagement with the plates50.- However, the arms Z5 will not move inwardly due to the. weight :ofthe pallet. A number of pallets are then positioned on top of the firsttwo palletsto form the stack or supply of pallets. Usually theadditional pallets are inserted by use of a fork-lift truck.

When a pallet is required by the pallet loading machine, the stack iselevated slightly. This may be brought about by a stack elevator, in theform of a plate Se. mounted on a piston rod 55 connected to a pistonoperable in the cylinder 56. The plate 54 is elevated into engagementwith the base plate 53 of the lower-most` pallet, as shown by the dottedline position, FIGURE l. Further upward movement of the plate 54, by thecylinder and piston structure, eiects elevation of the stack, asindicated in FIGURE 5, wherein the stack has been elevated slightly. Asthe lowermost pallet thus moves upwardly, the arms 2S are-moved into thehousing by the springs 36 and this movement continues as the palletraises until the floor 29 of the lowermost pallet 31 moves out ofengagement with the arms 28, as indicated in FIGURE 6, whereupon thelevers are moved-inwardly against the rear wall 11 of the housings bythe springs 36. In this position of the levers, the arms 28 arepositioned within the housings and out `of the vertical path traveled bythe pallets in the stack, whereby the stack may be now lowered by theelevator 54. During the downward movement of the lowermost pallet, thelevers 2S `are moved outwardly to position the arms 28 between the iloor29 and the base 53 of the pallet 32 next above the lowermost pallet 31.

This outward movement of the arms 25 is effected by shifting the pins d0forwardly of the pins 22. The arms 4l are pivotally mounted on studs 6dsecured to the side plates ifi of the housings.

Fingers 61 are pivotally mounted at their inner ends on studs 62, alsoysecured to the side walls 1li of the hou-sings. A spur gear section o3is also journaled on each stud 62, and is arranged in mesh with a spurgear section 65 xedly attached to each or the arms d1. A torsion spring66 is mounted on the studs dit and functions to urge the arms Allagainst an adjustable stop screw 67, carried by a bracket 68 secured tothe Wall plates lli. Each iinger 6l is formed with a` projectionoverlying the adjacent gear section 63. With this arrangement, thefingers 6l are free to move upwardly. Upon downward movement of thefingers, FIGURES 4, 6 and 7, the fingers, through the projections o9,effect clockwise rotation of the gear section 63. With the arms 41positioned against the stop screws 67, the fingers 61 extend laterallyfrom the housings into the path traveled by the pallets in the stack.

When the stack is elevated iby the plate 54, it is only elevated adistance to cause the oor plate 29 of the lowermost pallet to move `outof engagement with the arms .2,3 to permit inward movement of the arms28, as shown in FlGURE 6. This movement of the stack does not move thebase 53 of the lowermost pallet into proximity with the fingers 61.

However, upon downward movement of the stack, the :door plate 29 of thelowermost pallet engages the lingers 6l, eiecting movement thereof in aclockwise direction, FIGURES 3 to 8, and through the projections 69,gear sections 63, 65, eiects forward movement of the arms 4l, toposition the pins 4G forwardly of the pins 22,

whereby the springs 36 now eiect forward movement of the levers 25.

As the stack of pallets continues downwardly, the arms 28 `are thusmoved outwardly between the door Z9 and the base 53 of the next abovepallet 32. The lowermost released pallet 31 continues downwardly and isdeposited on pallet conveyor chains 70, FIGURE l, which arci actuated tomove the released pallet into the pallet loading machine. However,downward movement of the pallet 32 is arrested by the arms 28, whichhavenow beenimoved into position for engagement by the floor 29 of thepallet 32. The arrangement issuch that -upon this engagement the base 53of the pallet 32`has moved out of engagement With the lingers 6l, andthey are moved to lateral position by the torsion springs 66.

lt isV apparent that the dispensing units function automatically for therelease of the lowermostpallet 'of the stack without any application ofpower from the pallet loading machine. These dispensingunits are readilyattached to the pallet loading machine by simply being bolted to theframe uprights 10, the unitsbeing operable for pallets 'of alldimensions.

What I claim is:

l. Mechanism for dispensing pallets one by one from aA vertical stackcomprising housings xedly mounted contignous' to opposite sides of thestack, a lever pivotaily mounted at one end in each of said housings,said lever being formed intermediate vits ends with an arm extendinglaterally toward said stack, said lever being movable `about said pivotto move said arm into and out of position for engagement by thelowermostpallet in the stack, a spring secured at o-ne end to the free end ofsaid lever and Vbeing secured at its opposite end to a member shiftablelaterally inwardly and outwardly from said pivot to provide anover-the-center mechanism for moving said lever about its pivot, saidsp-ring being operable when said shiftable member is positionedoutwardly of said pivot to urgesaid lever outwardly to position said armfor engagement by the lowermost pallet in said stack, said spring beingoperable when said shiftable member is positioned, inwardly of saidpivot to urge said lever inwardly to move said arm out of registrationwith said stack, a latch carried by said arm and operable to latch saidlever against inward movement by said spring, said latch being moved outof latching position by the lowermost pallet supported by said arm, Iastack elevator operable -to engage the lowcrmost pallet .and move thesame upwardly from said-arm, Iand said spring being operable to movesaid arm inwardly upon such upward movement of said pallet, a iingerpivotally mounted in said housing for engagement by said lowermostpallet upon downward movement thereof and being operable upon suchdownward movement to move said shiftable member outwardly of said pivot.

2. Mechanism for dispensing pallets one by one .from a vertical stackcomprising pallet supporting arms mounted contiguous to opposite sidesof the stack for movement toward and from said stack into and out ofposition for engagement by the lowermost pallet for supporting the same,a latch operable when said arms are moved in pallet supporting positionfor engagement by .a pallet to latch said arms against movement from thestack out of pallet supporting position, said latch being moved intounlatched position by a pallet positioned on said arms, spring meansurging said arms out of pallet supporting position, said unlatched armsbeing restrained against movement by said spring means by the weight ofthe pallet positioned on said arms, stack elevating means operable toengage 4said lowermost pallet positioned on said arms and move the sameupwardly from said arms and to thence lower said pallet, said springmeans being operable upon upward movement of the pallet to move saidarms out of pallet supporting position, and a reset linger associatedwith each of said arms for engagement by said descending lowerm-ostpallet and operable, upon descent thereof, to return said arms in palletsupporting7 position for engagement by the pallet next above saidlowermost pallet,

3. Mechanism for dispensing pallets one by one from a vertical stackcomprising pallet supporting arms mounted contiguous to opposite sidesof the Istack for movement toward and from said stack into and out ofposition for engagement by the lowermo-st pallet for supporting thesame, a latch operable when said arms are moved in pallet supportingposition for engagement by a pallet to latch said arms against movementfrom the stack out of pallet supporting position, said latch being movedinto unlatched position by a pallet positioned on said arms, springmeans urging said arms out of pallet supporting position, said unlatchedarms being restrained against movement by said spring means by theweight of the pallet positioned on said arms, stack elevating meansopera-ble to engage said lowermost pallet positioned on said arms andmove the same upwardly from said arms and to thence lower said pallet,said spring means being operable upon upward movement of the pallet tomove said arms out of pallet supporting position, a pivotally mountedreset finger associated with each of said arms for engagement by saiddescending lowermost pallet and operable upon `descent thereof to returnsaid arms in pallet supporting position for engagement by the palletnext above said lowermost pallet.

4. Mechanism for dispensing pallets one by one from a vertical stackcomprising housings iixedly mounted contiguous to opposite sides of thestack, an arm mounted in each of said housings for movement toward andfrom said stack into and out of position for engagement by the lowermostpallet for supporting the same, a latch operable when said arms aremoved in pallet supporting position for engagement by a pallet to latchsaid arms `against movement in a direction away from the stack out ofpallet supporting position, said latch being movable into unlatchedposition by a pallet positioned on said arms, spring means urging saidarms out of pallet supporting position, said unlatched arms beingrestrained against movement by said spring means by the weight of thepallet positioned on said arms, a stack elevating means operable toengage said lowermost pallet positioned on said arms and move the sameup wardly therefrom and to thence lower said pall-et, said spring meansbeing operable upon upward movement of the pallet to move said arms outof pallet supporting position, and a reset linger pivotally mounted ineach of said housings and extending laterally therefrom for engagementby said descending lowermost pallet and operable, upon descent thereof,to return said arms in pallet supporting position for engagement by thepallet next above said lowermost pallet.

5. Mechanism for dispensing pallets one by one from a vertical stackcomprising housings tixedly mounted contiguous to opposite sides of thestack, a lever pivotally mounted in each of said housings and having apallet supporting arm, said lever being normally positioned with lsaidarm extending laterally from the housing for supporting the lowermostpallet i-n said stack, a latch carried by said arm and operable to latchsaid lever with said arm in pallet supporting position, said latch beingmoved into unlatched position by a pallet positioned on said arm, springmeans urging said lever about its pivot for movement of said arm intosaid housing out of pallet supporting position, said unlatched leverbeing restrained against inward movement by said spring means by theweight of the pallet positioned on said arms, a stack elevating meansoperable to engage said lowermost pallet positioned on said arms andmove said pallet upwardly from the arms and to thence lower said pallet,said spring means being operable upon upward movement of the pallet fromsaid arms to move said lever inwardly with said arms out of pallet-supporting position, and a reset linger journalled in each of saidhousings and extending laterally therefrom for engagement by saiddescending lowermost pallet and operable upon descent thereof to movesaid lever outwardly about its pivot to position said arm in palletsupporting position for engagement by the pallet next above saidlowermost pallet.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,330,639 Leumann Feb. 10, 1920 2,024,824 Knowles Dec. 17, 19352,858,043 Fenton et al Oct. 28, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 153,381 Sweden Feb.7, 1956

1. MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING PALLETS ONE BY ONE FROM A VERTICAL STACKCOMPRISING HOUSINGS FIXEDLY MOUNTED CONTIGUOUS TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF THESTACK, A LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ONE END IN EACH OF SAID HOUSINGS,SAID LEVER BEING FORMED INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS WITH AN ARM EXTENDINGLATERALLY TOWARD SAID STACK, SAID LEVER BEING MOVABLE ABOUT SAID PIVOTTO MOVE SAID ARM INTO AND OUT OF POSITION FOR ENGAGEMENT BY THELOWERMOST PALLET IN THE STACK, A SPRING SECURED AT ONE END TO THE FREEEND OF SAID LEVER AND BEING SECURED AT ITS OPPOSITE END TO A MEMBERSHIFTABLE LATERALLY INWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY FROM SAID PIVOT TO PROVIDE ANOVER-THE-CENTER MECHANISM FOR MOVING SAID LEVER ABOUT ITS PIVOT, SAIDSPRING BEING OPERABLE WHEN SAID SHIFTABLE MEMBER IS POSITIONED OUTWARDLYOF SAID PIVOT TO URGE SAID LEVER OUTWARDLY TO POSITION SAID ARM FORENGAGEMENT BY THE LOWERMOST PALLET IN SAID STACK, SAID SPRING BEINGOPERABLE WHEN SAID SHIFTABLE MEMBER IS POSITIONED, INWARDLY OF SAIDPIVOT TO URGE SAID LEVER INWARDLY TO MOVE SAID ARM OUT OF REGISTRATIONWITH SAID STACK, A LATCH CARRIED BY SAID ARM AND OPERABLE TO LATCH SAIDLEVER AGAINST INWARD MOVEMENT BY SAID SPRING, SAID LATCH BEING MOVED OUTOF LATCHING POSITION BY THE LOWERMOST PALLET SUPPORTED BY SAID ARM, ASTACK ELEVATOR OPERABLE TO ENGAGE THE LOWERMOST PALLET AND MOVE THE SAMEUPWARDLY FROM SAID ARM, AND SAID SPRING BEING OPERABLE TO MOVE SAID ARMINWARDLY UPON SUCH UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID PALLET, A FINGER PIVOTALLYMOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING FOR ENGAGEMENT BY SAID LOWERMOST PALLET UPONDOWNWARD MOVEMENT THEREOF AND BEING OPERABLE UPON SUCH DOWNWARD MOVEMENTTO MOVE SAID SHIFTABLE MEMBER OUTWARDLY OF SAID PIVOT.